Detailed instructions for installation are found at http://www.bioinformatics.uthscsa.edu/www/genomics/vectornti_1.html.
You can download an installer for either MS Windows or Mac OsX by following
that link. The link labeled Suite 8 is for Windows. The installation
procedure and screen shots shown are for an MS Windows platform. For
MS Windows there are 5 files to download. It will be most convenient
to save them to a new folder, since you will need to refer to at least one
of these files throughout the use of the program. When you get to the
menu showing the 5 files to download (2 .zip, 2 .msi, 1 .pdf) you should
download by a right click and "save link target as" operation rather than
left clicking on the links to avoid prematurely launching the installer,
acrobat, or winzip.
Installation of databases: One of the .msi installers copies a 2 year old version of the protein family database pfam to your disk. You have to go back to the download folder and click on the pfam .msi installer after the VNTI installer has finished if you want this function. Then you will need to read the instructions in the .pdf file in the download directory on how to update the pfam database. The file to be updated is located in the VNTI database directory. Similarly, before using the internal PROCITE, BLOCKS, or other database, follow the instructions in the .pdf file to update those.
Click on the VectorNTISuite8.msi installer file. If your system complains
that it needs a more recent version of the msi installer, go to microsoft and search for msi installer.
You can directly install the appropriate updated msi installer over the net.
If your system complains that you don't have permission to install
programs, see whomever has administrator priviledges for your computer. If
the system seems to hang, be patient. The installer is very slow.
The instructions indicate that the license manager is automatically luanched
at the end of the setup. I did not observe this to happen. You
can find the license manager in <START><PROGRAMS> in the Infomax
group. Note: you will have to run the license manager to obtain authorization
for each module you wish to use. "Demo" means you are freeing up the
program for another user. "Dynamic" means you are using the module.
Please be kind and use license manager to return the module to "demo"
when you finish with it. The "test connection" button actually executes
the changes you indicate on that window.
The installer leaves behind a .pdf file in the download directory with a full copy of the documentation. This is a 700+ page unified copy of all the help files, which enables searching all the documentation with a single find command, and also allows seeking if functions are available in the program without having to deal with the License Manager.
The first time Vector NTI runs, it sets up a database of miscellaneous data. This operation can take over an hour.
Vector NTI tends to put lots of detailed graphics on the screen at the same time. You may have to adjust your display resolution (<start><settings><control panel><display><settings>), and possibly obtain a magnifying glass. Also, since the crowded displays often have multiple resizable panes, it is common to resize some pane to nothingness in order to see another pane well. Then if you do an operation (like "open goal list") that puts information in the squished pane, it seems like nothing happens. Look for the missing information by expanding a pane that has been squished into the side of the window.